Chess Puzzle #YC1Ra — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h4; rook h3; pawns a4/b3/f4/g2. Black: king g7; queen e5; rooks c2/d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen e5→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
4. Best move: Qe5# — queen h8→e5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qe5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp1r2k1/6p1/3pqp2/P4P1Q/1P5R/2r3PK/8 b - - 0 37

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